Another Customer Bites The Dust.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Hello You Tube, it’s Rob from Maxwells Grass Cutting Services, based in the North East of England.
Today’s video. I have let another customer go. Do you have company policies, if a customer doesn’t adhere to them, do you let them go.
We are self employed and that gives us the right to choose.
Let’s discuss.
I look forward to reading your feedback, in the comments.
Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe.
All the very best.
Remember, when the green gold is growing, keep mowing.
All the best.
Rob.
Good decision. Once the relationship is soured, there's no going back, best to ditch that customer. Had one today, pre-agreed price of £40 per visit for the 2 of us (me and missus work together) to tidy front and back gardens. Been there 4 times this year. Today she said ''£40?? You've only been here an hour!'' Boom, she's gone.
Good choice it's the Best way! I Minimum charge 25 quid per lawn, I never quote hourly rate or timescale to customer anymore, I try to keep small gardens only, for profit to my time ratio, so usually 50 to 75 an hour(my time) in close enough together runs ( got 7 in one road, 5 in a block etc) 6 hrs max work per day, home by 2pm latest, on the beach surfing by 3pm 👍
Well said! Replace with better. All the best.
The fact that they said you werent to come as they were on holiday but let people in to feed the grass would have pissed me off as well. 👍
Me and you both.
Just received a 1 star review from a regular customer , why ? I was due to attend his garden to mow but he sent me a message to say " grass is ok , i want my hedges cut as they're really pi#@ing me off and ive wanted them cutting since the beginning "
I told him i lowered his hedges last season and wont be prepared to come back to lawns a foot high in 2/3 weeks . The hedges are just showing growth .
I wasnt prepared to put up with this so i told him thank you for your previous custom but i will no longer be attending .
In his 1 star review, he stated that i was charging him £50 to mow and thats all i wanted to do and ive left a disabled person in the lurch .
Reported to google .
Take a deep breath and carry on lol
totally agree with you Rob, People need to respect us gardeners more, Happy Birthday mate and enjoy your time away with your wife. Keith, Smiley Gardens
Thanks Keith. All the best to you .
iam sure some people think we do it as a hobby🤨.
Yes 100% they do. When you get asked the question “Will you bring your own tools” or “do you need electric”… 😅
@@BottleBrookGardens yes ive had that one a few times😂
@@BottleBrookGardenshaha always surprised how often I get asked this!
Your so right, we should have a sign highlighting how much our equipment and running costs are. 😂
Happy Birthday Rob, and have a good time in Harrogate.
Thank you .👍🏻
Absolutely right thing , nobody needs vampire customers . They had a few weeks of no mow which cost nothing and your offer was absolutely fair . Maybe they will value the next poor victim
Your so right. Thank you .
5 weeks on a wet well fed lawn the growth wud be crazy..they havin a laugh...uve done right thing .good on ya....even fortnightly is not right on a well fed lawn..puts mower under alot of pressure with even the tiniest bit of moisture ...you were spot on..
Thanks for that. I am pleased that I am not alone with my thoughts.
Happy Birthday Rob. Enjoy your well earned break
Thank you Phil.
Behind you 1,000,000% pal- you did the right thing.
Thank you .👍🏻
Me and my son run a lawnmowing business..its all about finding the right customers and work balance..unfortunately there are a small minority who will take the piss…thats human nature..we just move on an upward…had a few who stiffed us on payment or complained about price..we just move on..lol
Wise words, thank you .
Your business, your rules. I am so tired of disrespect gardening customers. I'm taking a hardline on them this year, personally. I'm no one's doormat, if they can't show the same respect I show them, they're gone.
You’re spot on. All the best.
Great that you know your worth and dont let people devalue your work.
Thank you .
Made up that the troll message sorted it's self out Rob. Your honesty and van chats are an inspiration for us just starting out. I binned a potential customer due to there attitude before starting the job, you've got to trust your gut instinct.
Enjoy your birthday. 👍
Thank you. Your so right.
Love your honesty and all your van chats keep up the good work
Thanks 👍
Spot on the respect isn't there ! won't get better you did the right thing you'll replace with someone that appreciates you
Wise words, thank you .
Dave here mate, Happy Birthday Rob all the best 🍻
Thank you Dave.
You did the right thing mate
Thank you .
I totally agree with you don’t ever let people take you for granted I would of done the same xx
Thank you .👍🏻🙏
I sort of feel like 10 quid is nothing for a double cut. Can't believe she said no to that lol. I am proud of you being able to confidently say no.
Your right I just put them on a shiit list
I can’t be ask with head ache they willing to pay for a boiler man or ice cream can more but not a gardener
Thank you very much.
Great point.
I 100 % agree with everything you said in your video. I had to give up a customer after two visits because she was talking down to me. My customers become almost like friends, and I would do my best for them, inc helping them make decisions in the garden by giving them a balanced view of their ideas. My longest serving customer is just over 17 years, I started working for them whilst in my final year of Horticultural College.
Value me and it will show through my loyalty and work.
Thanks for sharing!! A brilliant comment.
Hope you have a fantastic time and happy birthday 🎉🎂🍰
Thank you! 😃
I am the same Rob, anything that I do not feel good about with customers be polite and get rid. Regards Ian
Thanks Ian
I don't mind you filming when you're angry, sometimes it's needed. Keep it going RM
Thanks
Have a nice birthday Rob 🎉🎁🛍️🎂
Thank you , appreciated.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices You’re welcome mate 🎂🎉
Hi Rob, I am just about to set up my own Garden Services business, here in N. Wales there will be two of us, you mentioned work uniforms, you always look smart in your work Gear, So my question is please could you let me know which supplier do you use for your uniforms, I am looking for ( T shirts, Polo shirts, Trousers, Fleeces, Waterproof jackets,) Is there do you think anything else to consider for my partner and I ?? Also I would like to thank you for taking the time and effort to produce these videos, they have been a massive help to me and have inspired me no end, I would like to copy many of your work ethics and the professionalism you show to your service users as I think that is the way to go.
Many Thanks again Malc. !!!!!
Hello Malc.
I use a local work wear company here in Newcastle.
There will be one close to your home. Go in and talk to them , spend ten pounds developing a logo, it’s then four pounds to add it to every item you buy.
Good luck with your business.👍🏻
I'ts so nice to read your comments and realise that there are so many like minded people out there.
I work by myself everyday in gardens and come across the same situations as you do.
Thankyou to everyone of your followers for showing me that we are not alone.
Well said! All the best to you.
Fully behind you Rob, keep it up mate , once you feel they dont value you it's time to get rid.
I agree, thanks for watching.
I'm from Harrogate and considering starting my own gardening business. Your channel is incredibly helpful.
Enjoy your visit to our lovely town!
Awesome! Thank you!
You are 💯 percent in the right! New subscriber here 👋🏻👋🏻
Welcome aboard! All the best.
The standard ‘please don’t do our garden this week, we’re on holiday’. Great for them but not very good for us when we are pulling our arses off doing double the work a month down the line for the same price. Binned a couple of these off myself.
Good for you mate. All the best.
Happy birthday buddy hope you have a wonderful time together .
From big Al from Cornwall 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thanks 👍 Big Al.
you've done the right thing rob as i say on these videos scrap the crap i have one at the minute asking if i can cut back my price for work i see them going very soon if you sack them off they come back we have spoken about this in the past people do take the ~~ out of us at times but i have had a call this week for a job booked up 12 months ago i have done this for last 5 years or so love going their as every time i say ill be in Monday at 1 pm say and every year they pay me for the job and have given me a £50 tip because i turned up when i said i would they are who we should work with the ones that say need it cheaper i say go somewhere else then. there answer is but you are highly recommended for a great service and value some people all the best have a good weekend
Thanks for sharing your experience. All the best.
Hi Rob.
Happy birthday, this is my birthday weekend too. I had a message from a customer who had work done by someone else who couldn't complete the job to the customers satisfaction, the customer messaged me and said "I have a job for you, its about £20 worth of work, but I need it doing by the weekend, can you do it yes or no"?
My reply "NO".
Have a great weekend🎂🍺
Happy birthday! Some people are just unbelievable.
Good for you sir
Cheers.
No problem…. I have chronic lung disease and you sooooo make me laugh… take care sir
Happy Birthday mate.
Thank you kindly
Nice one Rob. I’d be interested in a “ how to shed customers video” there’s always a few on my books I’d like to get rid of!
Especially hard when there’s a good customer living next door to a bad customer.
Double the price usually works, if they stay it makes it worth the annoyance! I always quote based on weekly,2weekly and 3weekly cuts making the weekly the most attractive financial option and 3 weekly a bit steep, if they break the contract (holidays, dog ate my homework, my nail broke so im depressed) I make a really high 5 weekly price, this helps for good customer next door scenario as they will be on a weekly or 2 week plan. Also shrubs and hedges are different per garden to explain price difference easily. I love dogs but I put in a dog sheeet no cut clause and charge in contract, also no access clause and charge. if its just the occasional dog offering I don't mind for good customers as I always have poo bags from walking my own.
Send a nice text . Works for me.👍🏻
Happy birthday mate have a nice weekend
Thanks, you too!
Spot on Rob. They can afford the… well let’s just say expensive… fertiliser company, they can afford many holidays a year. Sadly it’s just a simple case of them not respecting your worth, something which we have to put up with all too often in this game.
Your right John. All the best.
I bought a Honda HRX537HYE based largely on your review on it.
They’re a hideous price here, but I’ve spent more over time on crap cheaper and secondhand mowers.
With mowers, like other things, you get what you pay for
🤷♂️
I love my hrx 537 , it has served me well. I hope you enjoy it.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices There's a massive difference in the quality so far. Thanks again for the great content
Happy birthday, have a great weekend 🎉🎉
Thank you! You too!
Hi Rob, great vids mate. 👍🏻 You would think they would want it doing when they are on holiday so it looks like someones home. 😀
That is exactly what I thought. All the best.
Green Thumb might've jumped the fence 🤣🙏🏻 Yeah, I've had that. "We're on holiday" which is why I now insist on a key ya know? You need access is the point.. because if it's not holiday it is something else "We're in the garden" "My husband did so and so" it's classic timewasters.. one way to weed out timewasters is to insist on a key, if they say "no" just say adios. I'm pretty lucky.. I have buzzers, gate codes, and where necessary gate keys.. thankfully I don't have many (any) through the house but I'd insist on a spare key if that were the case.
Exactly! Top man! I always put a no access charge in the contract which is exactly the same price as cutting the lawn. Sorts it right out and allows us to use our discretion for good customers with sensible reasons also!
Wise words. Thank you.
Nice to see you coming to my neck of the woods, hopefully I’ll get to bump into you! 😂
Fingers crossed.👍🏻
Good move mate, yes she doesn't deserve you. Hope you enjoyed visit to Harrogate.
Had a nice time. All the best.
100 per cent agree. Lawn care companies are the Bain of my life. All they want is to feed Nitrogen so the customer goes ‘oo that is lovely look how green and healthy my lawn looks!’
I set out in my T & C’s that if they are considering having a lawn care company visit then please SPEAK TO ME FIRST!!!
I agree..if lawn is fed regular its gotta be cut more regular than fortnightly ..these boys dont care bout the extra work it gives the gardener..a wet well fed lawn is a nightmare 4 even the best of mowers ..but customer expects it meteculous....not a chance of it ..
Wise comment.
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Don't worry about it mate,customers take the mick sometimes. Happy birthday to you aswell.
Thank you David.
Happy birthday 🍻
Thanks Nathan. All the best.
Keep up the good work 👏 I have a lot to thank you for . I've followed all your advice in growing my business. Ignore the haters
Appreciate that, good luck with your business.
Tell you what Rob, I've got four gardens where the grass has rocketed with all the rain....one has had Green Thumb put down a feed,
two others have got their dogs ''feeding'' the grass, another putting me off to 3 weeks cut.
I've decided to see them out for the year and cancel them.
As you say, you have to double cut...much harder work than usual...I'm 65, it's just too strenuous and physically punishing.
They really need WEEKLY mowing....but that means spending more money.
I agree with you 100 percent.
Exactly right! I would be slightly worried they might leave a negative feedback. As for the customer using a different lawn care provider . See this as an eye opener . This customers amount of respect for you is lesser. All adds up to the overall impression of the customer . (Although I think we both respect the clever marketing of the lawn care companies enticing the customer to use their service) have a great weekend !
Your so right. 👍🏻
Happy birthday matey wayne lawn mowing services 👍
Thanks Wayne.
Rob you can only do so much. You can only get 8 pints out of a gallon😊. Enjoy Harrogate recharge the battery and just think how lucky you are. Have a nice weekend 😊
Thank you .👍🏻
you are right people undervalue gardeners/landscapers. Iv had it where people go b&q look at a style of slab for patio then think a 20m squared patio will be 1k (when the slabs for 5/600 quid) they forget about wear and tear or tools, removal of waste ie either me or in a skip, foundation's of type1 sand cement jointing compound, and then that's not including your own wages. But alot of the issues are its not they cant pay the extra its they are not "wanting" to pay the extra due to only budgeting x amount. same with all trades, they look for a kitchen and go "oh we have 3k for a kitchen lets get this 2.5k one. then forget its almost the same for fitting so it becomes 5k in total then they get a cowboy from the pub to fit it and it looks shit
Great comment. Thanks.
Hi Rob, I do exactly the same mate. I have had some customers cancel afew hours before I'm due just because it's rained a little. I'm not a charity we do this for a living. Stuff em 😂
Your right Steve, thanks.
Firstly, great to hear the situation with the bad review Rob, but honestly I wouldn't sweat it, one or two bad reviews are often expected by the majority of people and if you have 100% positive reviews, a lot of people might be suspicious about that so def don't lose the nut over a bad review as you can always reply to them and potential customers will also see this.
As for this video, we do take a slightly different approach, but even then you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Some of our customers like to lock up their yards when they go on holiday, etc, and we therefore can't get access, but depending on what we go back to then that determines how we proceed. We have to understand that people will go on holiday and that some customers may want to lock up their yards, etc, but similarly it works for us in the sense that in the really bad weather we look for the customer to understand that if we have a week or so of really bad weather then we may not have the ability to cut the grass until the next time, if it works for us then it has to work for the customers, and 99% of our customers are great that way so we do allow them some slack in return.
However, a customer this week told us they're going away but will leave the money with a neighbour who's grass we also cut!. Great to have customers like that !
Great comment 👍
Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts regarding this. All the best.👍🏻
You on the ball Rob well said have a good birthday
Thank you👍🏻
rob , my business (grass gone ltd ) witch i started last year has grown with advice from you, i learned to use my spidey sense and create due diligence at every job site as a company policy now after watching the advice you have given , thankyou
Your welcome. Good luck with your business.
Totally agree mate, your business do what's best for you 👍
Thanks 👍
Good for you Rob, you did the right thing….onwards and upwards 👍
Thanks Tom.
Happy Birthday marra!!
Thank you Neil.
Happy Birthday Rob enjoy your short break in Harrogate..
Thank you Keith.
Great vlog mate ....just as well comments were off last vlog I think you would have had some very supportive comments to say least lol.....hope you have cracking weekend away and happy birthday 🎉
Thank you .👍🏻
Rob you have a fantastic mindset. Great topic
Damien
Thank you Damien. All the best.
Have a good weekend away Rob, enjoy being pampered by the better half. The weather will be great as it will be saving the rain for when you get back to go cutting. Lol
Thank you . 😂
Have a fantastic weekend Rob and have a fantastic birthday too buddy and your business your decisions to make too Rob
Thanks Wayne. All the best.
My pleasure as always Rob
When I started out, I had a weekly customer who went on at least 3 holidays per year. It was 5 hours each week. They told me to leave calling while they were away. I put up with it in the first season while I built up the business, but mid way through the second season, I'd had enough. I got rid. I was so pleased to see the back of them, as they used to send an email every weekend with a list of jobs to do 😂
I don't know how I put up with it for as long as I did.
When we first start we put up with some crap. I know I did. Not anymore. All the best.
Don't do lists! Biggest Red flag Ever when someone gives you one!
@stevewood7371 Definitely.
Don't need another customer like that.
Good lad, sharp learning curve .. .. ..yeah the last vid was a tad brutal .. .. ..
Tell me about it
spot on Rob.....the same thing happened to me yesterday....carbon copy...did exactly the same ...
Well done. 👍🏻
If clients ask you not to come while they are on holiday, could you advise them then that the cut when they return would cost more? I wondered if that might help either by making them change their minds or at least preparing them for the increased cost.
Enjoy the channel 👍
It might, for me it’s a red flag. All the best.
Harrogate's smashing mate. Enjoy! Happy Birthday!
Thanks! Will do!
Have a great birthday weekend bud...and make sure the wife treats you to an afternoon tea at 'Betties'...and defo visit RHS Harlow Carr Gardens...😊👍
Sounds good, thank you .
Agree with you, if your busy as we all are you can afford to pick and choose, we only do weekly cuts nowadays.
Thanks. Appreciated.
So this video is one year old, did you miss the customer? No? Well there you go; decision was right for you.
Respect works both ways and if you are not feeling it then it’s time to move on.
Great content as usual Rob 👍
Thank you Steve. All the best to you .
Well said Rob. Enjoy your weekend away, you deserve it.
Thank you Ronnie.
When you are angry your Geordie accent is a lot stronger, you wanted to confront the person who left a bad review, Luckily you didn’t, but was another entertaining video, what you see is what you get with you, and it could be the reason you are so popular, Have a lovely weekend
Thank you . Appreciate your kind words.
happy birthday mate
Thank you.
Have a great holiday in Harrogate, great place 🤩
Thank you! 😃
I completely agree with what you are saying here . I drop people if potential customers don’t respect me,annoy me or don’t value my worth …just say my piece and block em
Me and you both. All the best.
Rob, I totally agree with how you handled this. Stick to your guns
Thanks very much.
Enjoy your birthday weekend, Rob
Thank you John.
100% agree with you Rob!
Thank you Robert.
Happy birthday and I make you 100% right
Thank you Wayne.
Yer 100% right decision letting Her go Rob.
Thanks Kevin.
It’s hard graft keep up the good work,maybe see you at saltex….
Thanks, you too!
Fair play Rob, you were spot to let her go. How does somebody expect you to cut a lawn after 5 weeks with the growth that's there at this time of the year! Just wondering how do you deal with customers who are willing to pay but are always playing the poor mouth?
They are gone in a heartbeat. Pay the day of the visit or I don’t come back.
Hi Rob
Have a good time in Harrogate we gardeners deserve a break now and again we work dam hard !
Whereabouts in Notts do you come from ? I live in Retford
My Mum lives in Retford, I was brought up in Ollerton. All the best.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices All the best to you it’s a small world
Have a great birthday 👍
Give them the Greenfinger- the bain of us mow and blow. Even with weekly cuts on fertilised lawns, they are too lush. Not an environmentally friendly system. Over fertilised and weedkilled. Your policy is best- I have tolerated 3 weekly cuts with some customers - one I've not heard off for even longer, the other ditched me cos the grass wasn't short enough. I have a few other as and when the customer asks- I only do them cos they're small and not a massive issue. One lass I've been 2x this year- I think poss give that one the green finger...
Your so right. All the best.
..with the photo of the long grass it'd be better to say "nah, can't do it now it's too long" just to see their reaction 🤣
That would have been a better reply than mine.
Good on you Rob! I would have done the same thing, so don’t worry; I’m sure you aren’t. 🤣
Thank you Adam.
With Terms & conditions in place,all these boxes,have to be ticked with both parties the ingage with each other,its all about two way traffic.
Easier said than done. 👍🏻
Well rid, right decision, enjoy Harrogate 🎉👍
Thank you .
Rob..absofckinlutely, there's plenty of potential new customers out there. Which village in Notts where you from?
Ollerton. All the best.
Hi rob when a customer asks me to leave the garden whilst on holiday so I say ok and when the month is up I say I’m on holiday for 2weeks
Brilliant.👍🏻
You did right thing pal
Thanks Barrie.
Make you right maxwell any other trade would be annoyed aswell.. plus customers break agreements
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.👍🏻
When you are rammed with work and experiencing too much work coming your way. Would you not start to up your prices until people stop asking and then the ones you have will make you more cash. ( Or ask for 20% more than you normally would with new customers and see how many take you up then either tell your old customers because you are in demand you`ll have to up your prices or go to the new customers that are willing to pay more) If money is what drives you that is.
Money doesn’t drive me, but it comes in handy.👍🏻
You did the right thing there Rob. I've had it where people have gone away and said don't come. So 4 weeks later I turn up and I charge 3x the normal rate. If they don't pay it they're gone. Always work out there to be had. Regarding your last video, that's probably why gardeners don't want to talk money on here. There's probably a fair few that charge a lot more than you or I and they'd get ripped into if they made it public. Look after yourself Rob, enjoy your break 👍
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. All the best.
Have a great break Rob. All the best for the birthday you old fart.
100% bang on with letting the customer go. As you say. It's about respect. No respect. No work. Simple.
Brilliant comment. Thank you Gary.
Happy 40th mate.
Thanks! Add 15 more.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices
No way!